Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 04-04-19

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] UN chief calls Council to consider Cyprus report before referenda

[02] UN waiting the outcome of referenda

[01] UN chief calls Council to consider Cyprus report before referenda

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UN chief calls Council to consider Cyprus report before referenda

United Nations, Apr 19 (CNA) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has called on the Security Council to consider his report on Cyprus dated April 16 before the two sides on the island proceed to referenda on April 24 to approve or dismiss the comprehensive settlement plan he proposed to the parties, so that the people of Cyprus vote on their future reassured that the UN is prepared to act to meet the responsibilities foreseen for it under the plan.

In his report, circulated today, Annan says that the plan is the only available and foreseeable route to the reunification of Cyprus and must be judged as a whole, bearing in mind the available alternatives and weighing the consequences of deciding for or against.

He adds that the consequences of the decision the people of Cyprus make, whatever that decision is, will be very significant and notes that the outcome of the referenda is far from certain.

''In the 24 April 2004 referenda, to which the two sides committed themselves in the agreement of 13 February, the people of Cyprus would be pronouncing themselves on a plan that emerged from four years of intensive negotiations and consultations,'' Annan notes.

He adds that ''the consequences of the decision they make, whatever that decision is, will be very significant'' and notes that ''the outcome is far from certain.''

''The plan is complex and delicately balanced. Inevitably, as in any negotiation, it is a compromise,'' Annan says, adding that ''the presentation of the contents of the plan to the public has not always been equally balanced.''

The UN Secretary General points out that ''even though finalised by me at the invitation of the parties, the plan's core concepts and key trade-offs, as well as the bulk of the many text included, are largely the work of Cypriots.''

He adds that ''the plan is the only available and foreseeable route to the reunification of Cyprus'' and notes that ''it must be judged as a whole, bearing in mind the available alternatives and weighing the consequences of deciding for or against.''

''The decision before the people is theirs alone to make,'' the UN Secretary General points out.

Annan says ''timely action by the Council would go a long way to reassuring the people, as they vote on the future of their country, that the settlement will have the strong support of the United Nations and that its security provisions will be fully implemented.''

He adds that the Council is therefore requested to take decisions on matters, as defined in the settlement plan, to enter into force simultaneously with the Foundation Agreement on a contingency basis, subject to the outcome of the referenda.

The UN chief asks the Security Counmcil, in view of the referenda in Cyprus on April 24, to endorse the Foundation Agreement outlining the basic provisions of the settlement he has proposed to the parties, to prohibit the supply of arms to Cyprus and to decide on the operation of a new UN peacekeeping force on the island.

With regard to endorsing the Foundation Agreement, Annan asks teh Security Council to:

''(a) Take formal note that any unilateral change of affairs established by the Foundation Agreement, in particular union of Cyprus in whole or in part with any other country or any form of partition or secession, is prohibited; and

''(b) Acknowledge the political equality and distinct indentity of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and the equal status of their constituent states in the United Cyprus Republic;''

Annan further requests the Security Council to ''prohibit the supply of arms to Cyprus in a manner that is legally binding on both importers and exporters.''

He also calls on the Security Council to ''decide to maintain a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Cyprus, which shall remain so long as the federal government, with the concurrence of the constituent states, does not decide otherwise, and shall be authorised to deploy and operate freely throughout Cyprus.''

After giving the political background on UN efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, which led to the talks in Burgenstock, Switzerland, Annan says in his report that ''the settlement is an attempt to resolve a dispute that has been on the agenda of the Security Council for 40 years, the oldest item continuously on the Secretary General's peacemaking agenda.''

Annan notes that while the adoption of his settlement plan ''is a matter for the people of Cyprus to decide upon, its implementation would clearly be in the interest of international peace and security in the region, and would thus fall within the primary responsibility of the Security Council.''

''The scrupulous observance by all parties of the provisions and timetables contained in the comprehensive settlement, in particular those relating to security, is of vital importance. In this context, the decisions requested by the Security Council are a crucial part of the overall framework of the settlement,'' he notes.

The UN chief adds that the Security Council decisions ''would provide additional assurance that the settlement will be implemented in the framework of the principles of the UN, as set out in Article 2 of the Charter, including the resolution of disputes by peaceful means and refraining from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.''

Annan points out that ''should the plan not be approved by both sides at referenda, or should any guarantor not have completed the procedures and thus not be able to sign the Treaty (of Matters Related to the New State of Affairs in Cyprus) into force by 29 April, the Foundation Agreement would be null and void and of no legal effect.''

''Bearing in mind the understanding of the parties as reflected in the plan, and the mode of entry into force, I would request the Security Council to consider this submission in advance of the referenda on 24 April, and I would hope that the Council could reassure Cypriots, as they proceed to referenda, that the UN is prepared to act to meet the responsibilities foreseen for it under the plan,'' Annan adds.

Annan then proceeds to give a brief explanation of his settlement plan, saying that it ''provides for a new state of affairs that is in full accordance with the Council's vision of a settlement.''

He notes that under the plan the United Cyprus Republic is an ''independent state with a single international legal personality, sovereignty and citizenship, with union in whole or in part with any other country and any form of partition or secession expressly prohibited.''

''Its federal government is designed to ensure that Cyprus speaks with one voice and can protect its integrity and borders,'' he adds.

Referring to the constituent states, Annan says ''neither side may claim authority or jurisdiction over the other.''

[02] UN waiting the outcome of referenda

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UN waiting the outcome of referenda

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Apr 19 (CNA) -- The United Nations is waiting to see the outcome of the referenda on the Annan Plan that will take place on 24 April in the two communities in Cyprus.

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